News from the ASA District Commissioner from North Alabama

After opening the meeting and insuring everyone had their voting rights properly recorded the meeting moved on to our first presenter.

(-- this is a meeting where each member organization and club needs to be represented. If a key issue is to be decided it is done on the basis of votes but each club/league is awarded a number of votes based on membership. If your club president cannot attend it is very important that they write out a proxy form giving someone else, another club officer, NASL President, or your District Commissioner permission to vote your ballots. Otherwise, your voices will not be heard. It is a simple matter to fill out the proxy form and provide it to the person who will vote for you.--)

Tom Goodman, USYSA Director of Coaching, attended and presented on the merits of short sided games for younger players. He also discussed the use of club passes and the development of a National level youth coaching license on par with the C license. The audience tended to agree with his call for short sided games but was concerned with the timetable and the effect on small clubs and leagues. We have already implemented the changes for U6 and U8 in North Ala. Field and goal sizes, length of halves, ref requirements, etc. It is not expected to require more field space or any increase in the number of referees as we fully implement the short sided games. I had a phased implementation proposal that I shared, that was modified, and then voted in by the membership. The table below shows Max number of players per side at different ages over the next 4 years.

2003 2004 2005 2006

U6 4x4 3x3 3x3 3x3 (3x3 is with NO Keeper)

U8 6x6 4x4 4x4 4x4 (4x4 is with NO Keeper)

U10 8x8 8x8 6x6 6x6

U11 8x8 8x8 8x8

U12 11x11 8x8 8x8

U13 11x11 11x11 11x11

The budget was presented for information, discussed some but didn�t require a vote.

It was announced that we were moving ahead in a search for a State DOC but some details concerning responsibilities need to be reworked. An ad-hoc committee will be empowered by the board to move on this issue.

ODP was discussed; changes outlined at the board meeting were introduced. See ODP Notes.

Officer Election was done by voice vote since no office was contested.

Amendments to Constitution and Bylaws were offered and accepted.

A member of the USSF staff representing the adult side came and discussed what they saw as important developments relating to the adult game and to let us know that the Women�s World Cup was not going to be held in China. (We now know that it will be held in the United States.)

Important dates from AYSA calendar include:

May 27-June 15 Tryouts for Divisions I and II

June 26 Reg. materials and fees for Div I/II due to State office including:
Intent to play form
Membership forms
Birth Certificate for those who did not play Div I last season
Field Commitment form
Performance Bond
Admin Fee
Qualifier Fee

Aug 8/9 Qualifier for U13, 14, 15

Aug 9/10 Qualifier for U16, 17, 18, 19

Aug 16 Scheduling Meeting for State League

Ref fees for state league are due

Sep 6 State League begins

Sept 21/22 ODP teams Boys and Girls, in Super Club tournament in Memphis

Oct 3 Roster freeze date for Governors, DII, and Snickers Cup.

Oct 26 State League Div I play ends

Oct 26/27 Chevy Governor�s Cup

Nov 1/2 Snickers State Cup

Nov 8/9 Div II Tournament

Nov 10-13 ODP District Tryouts

Nov 17-20 ODP District Tryouts

Dec 6/7 ODP State Tryouts for Boys

Dec 13/14 ODP State Tryouts for Girls

If you have any questions about any of the items above please contact me at eaton@hiwaay.net. Thanks.

Marty Eaton
North Alabama District Commissioner